A/N: The title of this chapter is an inspiration title. I got this title from a song by Dashboard Confessional it's called "Screaming Infidelities" and that is why it's in quotations.

Chapter Seven: "Except When You Signed It 'I Love You Always and Forever'"

Lily and James sat in the restaurant that Remus had made reservations at earlier in the day. Amazingly Lily was having a good time.

"Wow James," she said after laughing at a joke he told, "I never thought that I'd be saying this but you are quite the gentleman."

James was surprised as well but he didn't show it. "Well you're quite the lady yourself Lily." James looked at his watch and noticed at how late it was getting. "Wow, we've been here late. We better get going soon, can't stay out too late."

Lily looked shocked, "I'm surprised to hear those words come out of your mouth."

"Why?"

"I mean when I heard that Remus wanted me to go out with you I was thinking that we'd be staying out all night, running around doing some crazy antic of yours. But that's not the case here. We're sitting, having a nice time, not even fighting." Lily stopped and looked at James, "who are you and what did you do with James Potter?" They both laughed.

"No, it's me Lily, the loveable James Potter," he said with a charming smile.

"Well then, I guess I was wrong about tonight, and about you."

"I guess you were."

Lily looked at him. "That remark," she said in a testy tone, "could have gone unsaid." James looked at Lily's stern face and wanted to kick himself for ruining it at the end of the night. But when Lily started laughing he realized it was a joke.

"Ha-ha, very funny." James said sarcastically.

"I'm sorry," Lily replied, "but you should've seen the look on your face!" Lily tried to do an imitation of it but she just started laughing more. "I probably didn't even give it justice!" James couldn't help but laugh a little too.

"Come on let's go." James said and, paying for the check, they walked out of the restaurant and back towards the castle, hand in hand. When they got close to the entrance of the tunnel they used James turned to Lily. Holding her hands he stared into her eyes and said, "Wow, you know I didn't tell you this earlier but you look stunning tonight."

Lily blushed, "Why thank you James. You don't look half bad yourself, I mean you could've tried to comb your hair down but, tonight was worth it. Don't tell Remus cause I feel really bad for saying this but, I'm kind of glad he got sick tonight and had you take me instead." When Lily said that James was about to let the whole lie slip up he felt so bad. How could he do that to one of his best friends? But instead of telling Lily the truth he just smiled at her and kept the lie inwards. What she doesn't know won't hurt her, he thought. But what James didn't know was that the next morning his lies would come to hurt him.

James, Sirius, Remus and Peter sat at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall the next morning, all enjoying their food except for Remus. He sat there looking at his breakfast not even touching it. He looked up and said, "Hey James-" but before he could ask his question he saw Lily walking towards them and he got up and left the table.

"What was that all about?" Sirius asked but James just said, "Nothing" and dropped the subject. Lily came over to where they were sitting and said, "Hey James, last night was great, thank-you again for taking me. I hope Remus feels better. I could've sworn I just saw him too."

Sirius and Peter looked at James confused but all he said was, "Well you did, but he felt sick."

Lily looked concerned, "Oh that's horrible." Pulling a letter out of her green messenger bag she said, "I'd hate to give this to him now but, well, I don't see that I have any choice. Will you guys give it to him for me?" Without an answer she handed it to James and walked away. Sirius looked at James and asked "What did you do James?"

"Nothing," James said distracted. Sirius reached for the letter but James pulled it away. "That's Remus' and I will give it to him later."

"And I will make sure that you do." Sirius replied.

Remus stared in a hand-held mirror he found in his trunk. After he left the Great Hall he ran up to the dorm, thinking that he must have forgotten something. But the real truth stared Remus in the face. He knew he wasn't looking for anything but avoiding the confrontation of Lily. He always thought Lily was such a nice girl but after the other night he realized he was wrong. "If I was wrong about her the other night, is me going out with her another wrong decision?" he asked aloud. Deep in thought he didn't even realize that James, Sirius and Peter had walked in.

"Hey Remus," James said, "Lily wanted me to give you this." Pulled out of his reverie, Remus looked up and James handed him the letter. With shaky hands he opened it and began to read. After he was reading it for a while James asked, "So, what does it say?"

Remus looked at him with sad, angry eyes and said, "Oh you want to know what it says, James? Well, let me read it to you:

'Dear Remus,

Hey, it's Lily. I hope you're feeling better. I feel bad for leaving you in the hospital wing and going off on our date with James but he told me that's what you wanted. That you didn't want me sitting inside worrying about you and I feel horrible for saying this but, I had loads of fun last night. I want to thank you for having him take me on our date instead, but that sounds too horrible. I mean it should, because that's the way I feel, horrible. I know this isn't the greatest thing to be writing in a letter but, last night when I was with James I felt different. Not a bad different but a good different. A way I never felt before about anyone, not even you. Last night was an experience that changed my life and I want to thank you. Not just for introducing me to this feeling but for actually being the first one to go out with me. I say this because, I think that it would be best if we broke up. I just can't stop thinking about James after last night and I feel really bad about it. I just want to be sure that this won't affect the friendship between you and James, and me for that matter. Even though I don't have feelings for you any more I would still love to be friends. Hopefully you understand and once again, I am really, and truly, sorry.

I love you always and forever,

Lily Evans'

Remus looked at James. "So," he said, "what is this whole letter about James? I wasn't sick last night and I never said that you could go on the date with Lily. You told me that-"

Suddenly the truth came bursting out, like a beast from its cage, "Okay Remus, I lied and I'm really sorry. You don't understand, I just really wanted to go on this date with Lily and-"

Remus held up a hand to stop him. He stood up and looked him square in the eyes, "It doesn't matter now James, it's over, and everything is said and done. Besides, it wouldn't have worked out between us anyway." Remus crumpled up the letter and threw it in the trash. "Now if you'll excuse me," he said, "I have class to go to." And Remus walked out leaving James feeling lousy and Sirius and Peter pissed off.

"That was really low James," Sirius said and he walked out too. Peter didn't say anything to James though, he just stared at him, shook his head and walked out. Even though James got the girl in the end he felt that he didn't deserve her in the least.